President Muhammadu Buhari has lauded the people and government of Republic of Cameroon for hosting over 56,000 Internally Displaced Persons from Nigeria since July 2014.
The president made the commendation at dinner and cultural night organised in honour of the visiting President of Cameroon, Mr Paul Biya and his wife, Chantal Biya, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday night.
Buhari, who also expressed appreciation to United Nations and other international donor agencies for their various assistances to IDPs across the country, condoled with the families of those that lost their loved ones as a result of the murderous activities of the Boko Haram insurgents.
“Our special condolences go to families of our fallen heroes who had sacrificed their lives to safe guard our territorial integrity and provide security of lives and property of our people
“Permit me to use this occasion of your Excellency’s visit to Nigeria to once again extend my personal gratitude and that of the Federal Government for your country’s hosting of over 65,000 Nigerian refugees since July 2014.
“We also appreciate the assistance of the United Nations System, International donors, local and international non-governmental organisations and the ordinary Cameroonian families who share their meagre provisions with the refugees in the spirit of African brotherhood.
“We thank them all.’’
According to him, a comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement programme for the IDPs are being worked out by the Federal Government in collaboration with some international organisations, saying that data of the IDPs are being collated for smooth implementation of the scheme.
The president also expressed delight with the successes being recorded in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency by the Nigerian military in collaboration with the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram.
He, particularly, commended the Cameroonian security agencies who recently participated in a joint military onslaught against the terrorist sect along the border areas of the Lake Chad.
President Buhari reassured that the battle against the terrorist group would soon be over as efforts had been intensified by various security agencies across member countries of the multinational joint task force.
He said that Nigeria and Cameroon would continue to maintain the path of dialogue and peace in addressing possible incident of social conflict or misunderstanding among the citizens of both countries.
The president assured that Nigeria would continue to partner with Cameroon in growing the economies as well as to ensure the safety of lives, land and maritime borders of the both countries.
In his remarks, President Biya, who spoke in French, reiterated the determination of his country to end the menace of the Boko Haram insurgency.
He commended the efforts of President Buhari in the ongoing war against terrorist group within and beyond Nigeria.
He, however, called for joint agricultural programmes between Nigeria and Cameroon along their border communities to address the challenges of youth unemployment in their respective countries
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Chief Justice of the Federation, Mahmud Muktar, and top private sector and government functionaries from Cameroon attended the event. (NAN)
